Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

De La Cruz Plastic Surgery Houston offers five abdominoplasty variants — mini, modified, standard, extended, and 4D high-definition — to address excess abdominal skin, diastasis recti (separated abdominal muscles), and localised fat. Dr. De La Cruz's signature Celtic Cross technique achieves a natural-looking umbilical reconstruction. The bikini-line incision is placed low to minimise visible scarring. General anaesthesia is used; overnight monitoring is standard for most cases. Recovery involves drains removed by day seven, upright posture within ten to fourteen days, and final results visible at six to twelve months.

Abdominoplasty at De La Cruz Plastic Surgery Houston is offered across a spectrum of five distinct surgical variants, enabling Dr. De La Cruz to match the procedure precisely to each patient's anatomy and aesthetic goals rather than applying a single technique universally. The mini-abdominoplasty addresses isolated lower abdominal concerns below the umbilicus using a shorter incision and without repositioning the navel, making it appropriate for patients with good upper abdominal tone and targeted lower-belly skin laxity. The modified abdominoplasty selectively tightens either the muscle layer or the skin envelope depending on which component is the primary concern. The standard abdominoplasty — the classic procedure — tightens the rectus abdominis sheath from xiphoid to pubis to correct diastasis recti, excises the pannus of excess lower abdominal skin and fat, and repositions the umbilicus through a new aperture in the elevated skin flap. The extended abdominoplasty widens the resection to include the flanks and lower back — appropriate for patients who have experienced significant weight loss and present with skin redundancy circumferentially around the trunk. The 4D high-definition abdominoplasty is the most comprehensive and technically demanding option: VASER high-definition liposuction is performed across the abdominal wall during the same operative session to define the underlying rectus muscle anatomy, fat transfer may be used to augment natural shadows, and the abdominal muscle layer is tightened in conjunction with skin excision. This technique allows patients to achieve not only a flat and tight abdomen but a visually athletic result with defined muscle contours. Across all variants, Dr. De La Cruz applies his original Celtic Cross technique for umbilical reconstruction — a method he developed and published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery — which creates a naturally hooded, triangular neo-umbilical appearance that avoids the circular, stigmatising navel shape associated with older techniques. Incisions are placed at the bikini line to remain concealed beneath standard swimwear and underwear. All procedures are performed under general anaesthesia at AAAASF-accredited Cypress Surgicare of Texas, with board-certified anaesthesiology and overnight monitoring as standard practice. Patients in the Houston and greater Texas area benefit from the full surgical safety infrastructure of the accredited facility and the close post-operative follow-up offered by Dr. De La Cruz's team.